I spent a gorgeous day at Sauvie Island, northwest of Portland. There are still good numbers of waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes, but the sparrows have started to thin out.
Sandhill Cranes (and Mallards)
Dusky Canada Geese, Sandhill Cranes (and Mallards)
I believe the front bird is a Lesser Canada Goose. The bill is long and slopes gently into the forehead, unlike the stubby bills and rounded foreheads seen on Cackling and Taverner’s Cackling Geese.
I saw at least a dozen Garter Snakes around Wapato Access Greenway. This was one of two that sat still long enough for photos.
Ethical Birder 
Great photos of the Sandhills! We always enjoy your site and your postings! Thanks.
Nice photos. The first one is like a classic bird painting. Nice rich brown tones.
Sandhill Cranes are SO amazing. I just got back from Nebraska where I had the chance to see thousands and thousands of them. I can’t wait to see more and I went out to Sauvie Island today to find them. I was told they usually stick around until mid April, but obviously I don’t know where to look! Would you be so kind as to tell me where you found your cranes? That is indeed an amazing photo.
Cheers!
I used to live on Sauvies Island and the birds were awesome.Im so happy i found this site.I saw so many on the island.Anyone who lives there knows the geese are thick also all the ducks.I had my own of both there.But we had visitors every day that i fed. Snow geese as well.I miss it there alot thanks for the photos. My husband and i ran the power house that irrigates the island.We kept the canals clear as well.I never saw one snake the years we lived there.I see no pics of the power station or the house.It was old then!At that time there were cannons booming all the time to keep geese off crops.Anyway thanks great pics.! Sheryl